EXTRACTION AFTER CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
- Gauze squares have been placed folded over twice and placed in your mouth so you can bite down on them to stop the bleeding. Replace the gauze as needed, but do so carefully so you do not remove the clot that will form in the tooth socket. If the clot is disturbed it could lead to a dry socket which is a very severe tooth ache.
- Place ice on the outside of your face over the extraction site. It can be placed in a plastic bag or wash cloth. Frozen peas can also be used. The cold will reduce the swelling and the flow of blood to the extraction site.
- If bleeding or oozing continues after an hour, you may try biting down on a slightly moistened tea bag.
- Do not do any vigorous spitting, rinsing, or gargling for 24 hours.
- To aid in healing do not smoke, use alcoholic beverages or carbonated beverages for the first 24 hours.
- Maintain a soft diet for 24 hours after the extraction to avoid disturbing the clot that will form in the tooth socket.
- Pain and tenderness is usually experienced after an extraction. Take your prescribed pain medication as soon as you experience any discomfort. It usually takes about 30 minutes for the pain medication to take effect.
- Dry sockets can be a normal result of an extraction if the clot is lost or disturbed. When this occurs, the pain usually begins about the third day after the extraction and increases in intensity. If this occurs, call the office immediately so we can place medication in the tooth socket which will give you relief.
- Bone fragments can occasionally work their way out of the gums. Please call the office if this occurs as the dentist may need to remove them. We usually wait until the fragment can be seen above the gum.